Recently a report showed that children in Beijing get less sleep than those in other parts of the country, putting them at a higher risk of physical and mental health problems.
People in Beijing usually sleep 7.6 hours a night, but about 25 per cent of the city population usually doesn't get enough sleep, according to the report by the capital's Health and Family Planning Centre. At least 30 per cent sleep fewer than 6.5 hours a night, the report said. Especially children living in the capital get less sleep than their peers elsewhere because of the large amounts of homework, excessive (过度的) use of mobile phones and poor sleeping patterns. Primary school student Li Li said she went to bed each day around midnight after finishing her homework and playing mobile games for a few hours. "I play online games together with many of my classmates after we finish our studies," the 10-year-old girl said. "It's a way of relaxing after studying all day. My parents also play mobile games after dinner."
Health experts have warned that long-term sleep problems can increase the risk of heart disease, anxiety (焦虑) and depression. According to the American Sleep Association, deep sleep gives the brain time to rest itself from daily activities, and it is important for health.
The report calls on people to take children's sleeping problems seriously: "When necessary, those who suffer from continuous problems should go to the hospital or medical care centre for help."
